Glove form



' Dec. 30, 1969 D. R SUTTON 3,486, 0

GLOVE FORM Filed July 11, 1968 FIG.3

72 F 6 INVENTOR.

76 14 D/ww R. Surron acaw ATTORNEY United States Patent l 3,486,670 GLOVE FORM David R. Sutton, 3109 Briddlewood Lane, Jacksonville, Fla. 32217 Filed July 11, 1968, Ser. No. 744,227 Int. Cl. A4111 19/04 U.S. Cl. 223-78 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A form generally conforming to the shape of a hand for drying, shaping, and stretching a glove placed thereon including an open frame-work palm portion, a plurality of elongated finger members attached to and extending outward from the palm portion, and an elongated thumb member attached to and extending outward from the palm portion. Each member includes a pair of spaced narrow and elongated side ribs which are flexible and resilient. The form further includes a narrow flexible and resilient element connecting each member to the palm portion such that the members are independently flexible with respect to the palm portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to a form for hand gloves, more particularly the invention pertains to a drying form for gloves adapted to be worn on the hands. In addition to drying the glove the form of this invention also stretches the hand covering or glove, such as to shape the glove and retain its form and configuration during the drying process.

Additionally this invention is concerned with a form which may also be used for holding articles for display purposes, and in particular to a hand form to which gloves may be fitted.

The present invention contemplates a glove form, preferably of open work construction to provide air passage through the glove such that the same may be readily dried, and wherein there is employed both finger or digit members and a thumb suporting member connected to the palm supporting portion of the form.

The present invention provides an improved type of appliance or glove form by means of which all of the fingers and thumb of a glove can be shaped or somewhat stretched in one action at the same time that they are dried.

Description of the prior art Glove dryers, stretchers and forms are generally known in the art and usually consist of a palm suporting portion from which extend four fixed 'finger supports of digits. These digits are generally immobile or rigid in the plane of the drying form. There are also glove forms equipped with a thumb supporting element in addition to the usual four digits and these thumb elements are likewise generally rigid in the plane of the drying form. The rigidity of the finger and thumb elements in the plane of the drying form makes it diflicult to fit the drying forms into gloves, particularly moisture laden gloves.

There have in the past been other and numerous forms for stretching shaping, drying and displaying hand gloves of one type or another. Such prior art glove forms are generally disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 1,755,605, 2,243,966, 2,462,632, 2,524,285, 2,783,925 and 3,133,682. Applicants invention herein disclosed is an improvement over such prior art glove forms, as shown for example, in the above-mentioned patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable glove form designed to enable the thorough drying of a glove placed thereon such that the original form, shape and configuration of the glove are retained.

A further object of this invention is to provide a glove form which is light in weight and which is designed to support the entire glove thereon including all of the digital members thereof in a manner and fashion to prevent shrinkage of the glove during and after the drying operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a glove form comprising an open work supoprting structure composed of a palm supporting portion or area and four digit or finger members which are flexible in the plane of the glove form and connected thereto and extending therefrom, and including a thumb supporting member which is flexible in the plane of the glove form and connected to the palm supporting portion and positioned in the same plane that passes through the palm supporting portion and the four flexible digits, so that the glove from may be easily fitted into a glove, particularly a moisture laden glove, by flexing the finger and thumb supporting members together.

Yet another object of the subject invention is to provide a glove form having the above stated characteristics which is simple in construction and inexpensive and economical in production, and most effective in its use in that it readily facilitates placing of a glove thereon and eflicient drying of the same.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a glove form by means of which gloves may be effectively dried without shrinkage, change of shape, or the like, and which form may be cheaply and ruggedly manufactured.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a glove form which may be used for drying gloves and which is readily storable, or when in use may be readily suspended from a suitable suport.

These objects are in general attained by providing a form generally conforming to the shape of a hand for drying, shaping, and stretching a glove placed thereon including a palm portion, a plurality of finger members attached to and extending outward from the palm portion and a thumb member attached to and extending outward from the palm portion. The finger and thumb members are deformable laterally of their respective longitudinal axes and are resilient such that respective finger and thumb portions of a glove placed thereon are stretched thereby. The form also includes a narrow flexible and resilient element connecting each of the finger and thumb members to the palm portion such that the members are, independently flexible with respect to the palm portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the glove form of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the glove form taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3. is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

3 FIG. 5 is a transverse-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the glove form of this invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the glove form taken along line 77 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With detailed reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, the glove form of this invention 10 is seen to include a palm supporting portion 12 and a digital or finger supporting portion 14 connected thereto. Palm supporting portion 12 of the glove form includes a generally horizontal bottom member 16, a generally vertically upright side member 18, a generally horizontal top curved member 20, and a second generally upright side member 22 which is outwardly curved. All of the members 16, 18, 20 and 22 are smoothly joined together to form palm supporting portion 12 and includes therebetween a large smoothly curved opening or cut-out section 24, which permits the ready passage of air through the body or palm portion of a glove placed on the form to insure the ready and uniform drying thereof. Generally horizontal lower member '16 is provided with a centrally positioned passageway or opening 26 extending therethrough, see in particular FIG. 5, such that the glove form 10 may be readily attached to or hung from any readily available support by means of a chain (not shown) or other similar attaching or supporting means.

The digital or finger supporting portion 14 includes four digital or finger-like supporting members 28, 30, 32 and 34 which are shaped like and in proportion to the four fingers of a hand. Members 28 through 34 are connected to the palm supporting portion 12, and in particular to generally horizontal upper member 20 thereof. Digital or finger supporting portion 14 further includes a fifth digital member or thumb-like supporting member 36 which is shaped like and in proportion to the thumb of a hand and is connected to the upwardly and outwardly extending side member 22 of palm supporting portion 12. Thumb supporting member 36 is positioned on the glove form 10 in approximately the same position and in relationship to the other support members 28 through 34 as the thumb of a hand is in relationship to the fingers of the hand.

Each of the digital supporting members 28 through 36 includes a closed, rounded and smooth end portion, such as at 38, whereby the digital members may be readily inserted into the fingers of a glove. Each digital member 28 through 34 includes a pair, as at 40 and 42, of elongated generally upright side members or ribs connected to the closed and rounded outer end portion 38. Spaced ribs 40 and 42 of each digital member are relatively thin and flexible to generally spread, separate, form and somewhat stretch the sides of each finger of the glove placed on glove form 10. Side members or ribs 40 and 42 are flexible such that they may be compressed toward one another as the finger of the glove is slipped over its respective digital member. After the glove has been positioned on form 10, sides or ribs 40 and 42 of each digital member 28 through 34 will tend to expand or move outward from each other to their original unstressed position such as to generally shape, form and stretch the respective finger of the glove placed on the form. In similar fashion thumb member 36 is provided with thin flexible side members or ribs 44 and 46 which may be contracted or compressed toward each other as the thumb of the glove is slipped over thumb 36 of form 10. Thereafter, ribs 44 and 46 will tend to expand or return to their previous unstressed condition to generally spread, form and somewhat stretch the sides of the glove thumb placed on the form. The large openings or cut-out portions 41 and 45 respectively provided between ribs 40 and 42 of each finger member 28 through 34 and ribs 44 and 46 of thumb member 36 permit the ready passage of air through the digits of a glove placed on form 10 to insure the ready and uniform drying thereof.

Each of the digital supporting members 28 through 36 is connected adjacent its base or inner end portion, as at 48, by a thin flexible rib or element, as at 50, to palm supporting portion 12 of the glove form 10, and in particular to the upper generally horizontal member 20 and the generally upright side member 22 thereof. The elongated sides or ribs, as at 40 and 42, or 44 and 46 of each digital member 28 through 36 come together and join each other at the base 48- thereof, and also join with flexible rib 50 to form a Y or pivotal point connection at the junction between each individual digital member and palm supporting portion 12 of form 10. Each of the individual connecting ribs or elements 50 individually connecting each respective digital member 28 through 36 to palm supporting portion 12 is relatively thin and flexible, such that each digital member is flexible and somewhat pivotable with respect to portion 12. In this manner each individual digital member can be individually and independently flexed with respect to portion 12, independently of the next adjacent member on either side thereof. An opening, such as at 52, exists between the individual connecting ribs or members 50 providing a space or area in which or through which the individual digital members can be moved or flexed with respect to portion 12 of the form. Due to the individual and flexible connection of each of digital members 28 through 36 to palm supporting portion 12 of the glove form, the digital members may be generally compressed or brought together such as to readily position the fingers and thumb of a glove on the form. Once the glove fingers have been positioned on the form the digital members 28 through 36 thereof will tend to expand and move apart to assume their original unstressed positions, whereby the fingers of the glove placed on the form will become separated from each other, shaped and somewhat stretched with respect to each other to aflord a more thorough, complete and uniform drying of the fingers of the glove.

With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment 60 of the glove form of this invention is depicted therein and includes a palm supporting portion 62 and a digital or finger supporting portion 64. Palm supporting portion 62 includes a generally horizontal lower member 66, a first generally upright side member 68, a curved generally horizontal top member 70 and a second generally upright side member 72, the upper portion of which is outwardly curved. All members 66 through 72 are smoothly joined together to form palm supporting portion 62 having a large central opening or cutout portion 74 therewithin. Bottom member 66 is provided with a central passageway or opening 76 extending therethrough to provide means for attaching or supporting form 60 as may be desired.

Digital or finger supporting portion 64 includes four spaced finger members 78, 80, 82, and 84 and a thumb supporting member 86 which are attached at their base to palm portion 62 of the form. Each of the digital members 78 through 86 is connected adjacent its base to the palm supporting portion by a thin flexible rib or connecting element, as at 88, such that each digital member is individually and independently flexible with respect to palm supporting portion 62. In this manner, digital members 78 through 86 may be generally compressed or brought together while the fingers and thumb of a glove are positioned on form 60. After the glove has been positioned on the form, the digital members thereof will tend to expand, move apart and assume their original unstressed positions, whereby the fingers and thumb of the glove become separated, shaped, formed and somewhat stretched with respect to each other. Each of the finger supporting members 78 through 84 includes a pair 90 and 92 of elongated generally straight side members or ribs which join each other at the base thereof, such as at 94, and join with connecting element or rib 88 to the palm supporting portion 62. Thumb sup porting member 86 includes a pair 96 and 98 of elongated and generally curved side members or ribs which come together and join each other at the base 100 thereof, and join with the thin, flexible connecting rib or element to connect with the palm supporting portion 62 of the form. Side members or ribs 90, 92 and 96, 98 are thin and flexible such that they may be compressed toward one another and together for easy insertion into the fingers and thumb of a glove as the same is placed on the form. After the glove is positioned on the form the flexible ribs, such as at 90, 92 and 96, 98, tend to expand or move outward from each other to return to their original position or unflexed condition thereby expanding, spreading, shaping, forming and generally stretching the sides of the individual fingers and thumb of the glove. Additionally, each of the finger and thumb supporting members 78 through 86 is provided with an open end as at 102; that is to say, that the side members or ribs, such as at 90 and 92, curve inward at the end portion of the supporting member but never quite meet to thereby leave an opening therebetween, such as at 102. In this manner the side or rib members of each digit member may be readily compressed toward one another or together throughout the entire length of the digit supporting member, except closely adjacent the base portion 94 thereof.

The glove form of this invention has utility when used as a form for the display of gloves or as a form for generally shaping, stretching or forming gloves. However, the device is particularly applicable and usable as a form on which to dry a moisture laden glove, particularly one which is fabricated from a leather. In using this device for the drying of a moisture laden leather glove, particularly a leather sport glove such as a golf glove which has been subjected to repeated uses in which it becomes saturated with moisture, the glove can be thoroughly and completely dried both inside and outside in an opened, shaped, formed and semi-stretched position. Using this type of drying the glove tends to remain soft and pliable after repeated usage and exposure to conditions under which it becomes substantially wet or even saturated with moisture. By using the form of this invention to dry a leather glove, the useful life thereof can be substantially prolonged by preventing formation of damp rot and preventing the formation of hard, dried hair-line creases, which form in damp leather gloves when the same are not retained in their original shape and which lead to cracking and splitting of the glove therealong.

The glove form of this invention can be fabricated from most any suitable material which is flexible and resilient, and thin portions of which are strong and can withstand repeated deformations and flexures without fracturing. Many of the thermoplastic materials have been found to be suitable for use in the manufacture of the hereinabove disclosed glove form; thermoplastic polypropylene has been found to be particularly acceptable for this purpose and use.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A form generally conforming to the shape of a hand for drying, shaping, and stretching a glove placed thereon comprising in combination an open frame-work palm portion, a plurality of elongated open frame-Work finger members attached to said palm portion and extending outward therefrom, an elongated open frame-work thumb member attached to said palm portion and extending outward therefrom, said finger and thumb members being dedeformable laterally of their respective longitudinal axes and being resilient whereby respective finger and thumb portions of a glove placed thereon are stretched thereby, and a narrow flexible and resilient element connecting each of said finger and thumb members to said palm portion whereby said finger and thumb members are independently flexible with respect to said palm portion.

2. In the form as defined in claim 1 wherein each said finger and thumb member includes an outer and inner end portion and a pair of spaced narrow and elongated side ribs having opposite ends, said pair of side ribs of each finger and thumb member being joined at one said end and forming said outer end portion, said pair of side ribs being joined at the other said end and forming said inner end portion, said inner end portion of each said finger and thumb member being connected to said element.

3. In the form as defined in claim 1 wherein each said finger and thumb member includes an outer and inner end portion and a pair of spaced narrow and elongated side ribs having opposite ends, said pair of side ribs of each finger and thumb member being joined at one said end and forming said inner end portion, said inner end portion of each said finger and thumb member being connected to said element.

4. In the form as defined in claim 3 wherein the other said end of each said side rib of each said finger and thumb member is inwardly curved whereby said finger and thumb members of said form are readily slipped into the respective fingers'and thumb of a glove.

5. In the form as defined in claim 1, wherein each said finger and thumb member includes a pair of spaced narrow and elongated side ribs, each rib being resilient and compressible toward the other rib or said pair of ribs, each said pair of ribs substantially filling and conforming to the shape of respective finger and thumb portions of a glove placed thereon thereby to shape and stretch same.

6. A form generally conforming to the shape of a hand for drying, shaping, and stretching a glove placed thereon comprising in combination an open frame-work palm portion, a plurality of elongated open frame-work finger members attached to said palm portion and extending outward therefrom, an elongated open frame-work thumb member attached to said palm portion and extending outward therefrom, a narrow flexible and resilient element connecting each of said finger and thumb members to said palm portion whereby said finger and thumb members are independently flexible with respect to said palm portion, each said finger and thumb member including a pair of spaced narrow and elongated side ribs, each rib being resilient and compressible toward the other rib of said pair of ribs, each said pair of ribs substantially filling and conforming to the shape of respective finger and thumb portions of a glove placed thereon to thereby shape and stretch same.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1917 Isaacs 223-78 5/1964 Sawyer 223-78 

